My Department provides a suite of income supports for those unable to work due to illness or disability. Invalidity Pension is a weekly payment to people who cannot work because of a long-term illness or disability and who are covered by Pay Related Social Insurance contributions. The payment is payable up to age 66 where a person continues to satisfy the eligibility requirements. At 66, a person automatically transfers to the State Pension (Contributory) at the full rate.
Recipients of Invalidity Pension can avail of the Free Travel pass. In addition, subject to a means test, recipients may also be eligible for Fuel Allowance and the Household Benefits Package, subject to meeting the other eligibility criteria for those schemes.
In order to qualify for Invalidity Pension, a person must have been incapable of work for at least 12 months and be likely to be incapable of work for at least another 12 months or, be permanently incapable of work. If a person on Invalidity Pension feels they have some capacity for work, they should apply for Partial Capacity Benefit.
Partial Capacity Benefit, provides an opportunity for people who are in receipt of Invalidity Pension or Illness Benefit for more than six months to avail of employment opportunities while continuing to receive an income support payment from the Department in addition to their earnings from employment. The scheme is designed to facilitate greater levels of participation by disabled people in the open labour market.
The personal rate of payment of Partial Capacity Benefit is based on a medical assessment of the person’s restriction regarding their capacity for work, whether the person was in receipt of Illness Benefit or Invalidity Pension, and their current rate of payment. If a person's disability is rated as moderate, severe or profound their previous payment continues at 50%, 75% or 100% respectively. If it is assessed as mild a person will not qualify. There is no limit to the amount that people can earn or the number of hours a person can work and continue to receive Partial Capacity Benefit.
A person must apply for Partial Capacity Benefit within 21 days of commencing employment and must commence employment within 13 Weeks of applying for Partial Capacity Benefit.
A person on Partial Capacity Benefit with an underlying entitlement to Invalidity Pension, can retain their Free Travel Pass for a period of five years.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
